Vacuumizing device for containers



y 1939. G. J. OVERMYER VACUUMIZING DEVICE FOR CONTAINERS Filed April 20.1957 Patented May 9, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

' This invention relates to a device for use in sealing preserving jarsand other containers, one

of the objects being to provide a device whereby.

air can be withdrawn from the space between the contents of thecontainer and the lid or closure.

It is a well'known fact that when air is withdrawn from a container,hermetic sealing is assured if the lid or closure fits snugly on thecontainer. It is also well known that where vacuum scaling is employed,corrosion is reduced because if any portion of the lid is of metal,there will be no moist air thereunder such as frequently causesdeterioration of metal. Vacuum sealing also prevents discoloration andprolongs the natural color of the product and has the further advantageof preventing the formation of molds within the sealed container.

Because of the advantages stated, the present invention has been devisedfor the purpose of attaining them.

A further object is to provide a sealing means whereby the personcanning food stuffs or the like may ascertain whether the seal of thecontainer is air-tight before finally clamping the lid in place. This isimportant to know at the time of canning in order that other gaskets maybe employed or any necessary changes made to effect a tight seal shouldit be found that the jar is not properly, sealed. Thus waste of food dueto imperfect sealing is eliminated.

Another object is to provide a vacuumizing device which is simple inconstruction and so easy to operate that no mechanical or technicalskill is required, thus rendering the article particularly advantageousfor use by housewives.

A still further object is to provide a device of this character which,because of its simplicity and few parts, can be manufactured at low costso as to be available to the widest possible class of consumers.

A further object is to provide a sealing device the vacuum chamber ofwhich is capable of distortion, thereby to aid in expelling the air inits interior, and being also collapsible to form a pressure member forholding down the lid from the exterior after the air has been withdrawnfrom the container and while atmospheric pressure is being admittedabove the lid.

A further object is/to provide a sealing device having a sealing edgewhich cooperates with the body of the jar, the said device being easilydistortable for the purpose of breaking its seal with the jar at anypoint around its circumference simply by lifting it with a finger-tip.

A further object is to provide a sealing device of this type which doesnot require a specially designed jar or other container but isapplicable to and intended for use with jars of a type or 'types whichhave long been in production and. 5

on the market and have gained widespread distribution to the consumer.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of10 construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fullydescribed and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changesmay be made in the construction and arrangement of parts withoutdeparting from the spirit of the 15 invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawing th preferred form of the invention has beenshown.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the upper 20 portion of a closedjar showing the sealing device in position thereon prior to thewithdrawal of air.

Figure 2 is a plan view, the bulb or suction device being removed.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the relative positions ofthe parts after the air has been withdrawn and prior' to the removal ofthe device. Y

Referring to the figures by characters of reference I designates adome-like cap formed preferably of soft rubber, pliable rubberizedfabric or any other suitable material and this cap may be provided atits center with a handle 2 in the form of an outstanding knob or thelike.

The wall of the cap curves inwardly adjacent to the open end of the cap,as shown at 3 and extending around the open end of the cap is an annularenlargement forming a slightly tapered seat 4. Another annularenlargement 5 may be formed about the cap above and adjacent to the seatI and this latter enlargement may have a groove or channel 6 in theupper surface thereof, although a flat shoulder could be used instead.

A nipple 1 is seated in the cap and suitably anchored therein, thisnipple. constituting a connection between the cap and the tubular stem 8of a bulb 9 or other suction device the outlet end ill of which isprovided with a check valve ll of any desired construction.

It willbe noted that a rounded thickened portion or abutment I2 isformed within the cap directly beneath the knob or handle 2. This is forthe purpose hereinafter pointed out.

After the container C, which can be a jar or 65 the like, has beenfilled with the material to be preserved, a sealing gasket G and a lid Lare placed in position, it being understood that the suction device 8which operates to withdraw air from within the cap and likewise fromwithin the container C, this air being free to fiow between the' lid andcontainer and past the loosely seated gasket Q. As air is thus withdrawnthe cap I will collapse so that the bulge or enlargement ll'wili movedownwardly into contact with and press upon the lid L as shown in Figure3.

Following this withdrawal of air in the manner stated, the operatorpresses downwardly with one hand on the knob 2 so as to hold the lidtightly upon its gasket G. At the same time the fingers oi the same handare extended down over the side of the collapsed cap so that the tipscan come under the protruding portion of seat 4. By then placing thetips of the fingers of the other hand under this seat 4 at a pointdiametrically oppositewvhere the other fingers are engaging the seat,all of the fingers can be used simultaneously to raise the seat 4 fromcontact with the bead or shoulder'B. 'It is to be understood, however,that the seal can be broken by lifting under the sealing edge 4 at anyone point. Thus outside air is permitted to enter the chamber with theresult that the cap I will be loosened and can be removed from the jar.The air rushing into the chamber at atmospheric pressure exertssufilcient pressure on top of the jar lid to hold the air-tight sealwhich had been maintained previously by the pressure of the operatorshand on the knob 2; After removing the cap I from the jar it will befound that the lid adheres firmly to the Jar because of the vacuum Bypressing downwardly within the container and the force-15o! atmosphericpressure on the top of the lid.

After the sealing device has been removed tests can be made to determinewhether the seal is air-tight. One way of testing is to grasp around theedges of the lid with the fingers and if it remains sufilclently tightto lift the jar the operator is assured that there is no leakage of airand that a proper vacuum exists in the jar.

After the test any suitable means can be used for clamping the lid inplace.

It is to be understood of course'that various changesmay be made in theprocedure above outlined and, as before pointed out, changes may also bemade in the construction of the parts within the scope of the inventionas claimed.

Whatis claimed is:

Av-vacuumizing device for containers including a collapsible cap ofpliable material proportioned' to receive the lid and adjacent end-'ofthe container to be sealed, said cap having aninwardly extended portionat the center thereof for contact with the center of the lid when the acap is collapsed, said cap having an annular seat at its open end forengagement with a, portion of the container, said seat beingproportioned to project outwardly from that portion of the containerwith which it is engaged, and means on the cap at the center thereof forreceiving pressure from the palm of the hand of the user, thereby toforce the inwardly projecting portion against the lid to hold the lidfirmly on its con- 7 tainer, the distance between the seat on the cap Iand the pressure-receiving portion being such that the fingers of thehand exerting pressure on the cap can be utilized for engaging theprojecting portion of the seat to strip said seat and the adjacent partof the cap off of the container while pressure is being maintained onthe lid,

and means for exhausting air from the cap, said means being located at apoint removed from the pressure-receiving portion of the cap.

EoRGE J. OVERMYER.

